Movie Review: “Jennifer’s Body”

Those familiar with screenwriter Diablo Cody’s popular film “Juno,” will no doubt recognize many of the elemnts that made that film so endearing in her newest, “Jennifer’s Body.” Sure there is the rustic suburban setting, the collection of quirky high school characters, and of course her trademark slang-laden, overwhelmingly witty dialogue — though no one actually talked like her characters when they were teenagers, they certainly tried to. However, from there, “Jennifer’s Body” is a drastic departure from “Juno.” Those expecting a tender cuddle among two high school misfits found in the climax of “Juno” will instead see a sexy, supernatural showdown by two other high school stereotypes: the nerd (Amanda Seyfried) and the princess (Megan Fox). And there is no precious street stoop duet for the closing credits.

But that’s not a bad thing. The movie will no doubt the challenge expectations of the horror film junkies,  Megan Fox groupies and “Juno” lovers alike. However, those departures do not disappoint. Rather, they surprise and satisfy, especially when played with the unconventional premise: a teen queen who eats boys.

The story is told from the perspective of Needy, a walked over, nice girl. She is played by a drabbed down Amanda Seyfriend, almost irrecognizeable from her role in “Mean Girls” as the pretty, dumb blonde. She is utterly devoted to her beautiful, bratty, best friend Jennifer, played by Megan Fox, who was named “Sexiest Woman Alive” by FHM magazine. Jennifer gets the best lines, which range from eye rollingly oblivious to caustically clever, and will likely be oftquoted by preteens and pop culture bloggers.  My favorite: “He listens to maggot rock. He wears nail polish. My dick is bigger than his.”

When Jennifer starts to exhibit some strange behavior, namely roaming the street covered in blood and vomiting a tar-like substance, Needy is concerned. But, unlike Jessica Biel in “Texas Chain Saw Massare” or Sarah Michelle Gellar in “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” the hot girl is not the pathetic victim typical of the horror film genre. She is the the monster. Not suprisingly, her cannibalistic attacks are much more sexualized than those of say, Freddy Kruger of “Nightmare on Elm Street” fame. But hey, at least she’s doing the chasing and not the running.

Sure the film offers some cliches, so those seeking a horror film, a Daiblo screenplay, or “The Sexiest Woman Alive” won’t walk away dissatisfied. But as soon as the gore, campy reportiore and girl-on-girl make-outs get annoying, the film, with a quick joke or bite to the gut, laughs at the ridiculousness of it all, and so can the viewer.

Through these twists and turns, it is difficult to discern exactly what the movie is trying to achieve. Is it a satire on horror movies? A sharp examination of the structure of high school society? A role-reversed commentary on a culture in which the dumb jocks sexually prey on vulnerable girls? One hundred and two minutes of a gorgeous man-eater, both figuratively and literally? Maybe it’s all of these things or none of them. Either way it is entertaining, amusing, and it has a killer soundtrack. Just don’t expect to have much of an appetite after.